ZSL London Zoo celebrated World Turtle Day on Tuesday (May 23) in style after an endangered species hatched at the zoo for the first time.

The spiny hill turtle came out of its shell on May 15, weighing a tiny 33g at birth and measuring just 61mm, following a 136 day incubation period.

The moment was captured by zookeepers on a time lapse camera.

The first spiny hill turtle to hatch at ZSL London Zoo (Image: ZSL London Zoo)

ZSL keeper Francesca Servini said: “The reptile team have spent four years carefully researching this fascinating turtle species so we’re very excited to have our first ever hatch at ZSL London Zoo – just in time for World Turtle Day."